Taxi Driver Online

Hi all. Newbie here.

I've been guaranteed a job in Angus subject to passing the knowledge test (oh the joys!) I'm really looking forward to working as a taxi driver but I'm left wondering if there is any progression in the industry or if it's "once a hack, always a hack". The company I'm going to be working for dose wedding cars and PH too so perhaps I might get the offer of wedding cars after a while.

I was sitting behind a partner taxi in arbroath last week at the jet wash and that got me thinking, as an employed taxi driver is it my job to wash the car during my shift? That in turn got me thinking about people being sick in the car as well and how I should deal with that at 2am! Probably things I don't need to worry about until I'm working but would be useful to know

I'm prepared to work and have no social life but I'm hoping the hours won't be to excessively long as I almost died as I was told they run until 4am at the weekend Hey-ho such as life. I really hope I can pass the test because I really want to be a taxi driver (madly enough some of you may say )

Any help and advice will be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

The only progression this trade has is the number of hours you work.

Basically you are self-employed, not sure that allows for much progression up the ladder.

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IDFIMH

To begin with the vast majority of Taxi driving jobs are, 'Self-Employed' so if Angus Taxi's is employing you make sure you are getting all the job rights of an typical employee i.e sick pay, holiday pay etc, etc. Most taxi drivers are self-employed because the trade just seems to work better like this. The fact that is it mostly a cash business has a lot to do with it (another discussion all together). Put it this way, if this was an employee run structure I would not be doing it! This should give you something to think about.

So we on TDO might not be in the best position to advise you because the vast majority, if not all are self-employed. Nevertheless, I will give it my best shot.

I have never wanted to be an 'employee'. We make our own decisions in life on everything else, why should work be any different? If you view this as a 'job' for 'progression' seek something else. Taxi driving is a business and should always be treated as such. You are the main 'man/woman'. You are in control. Focus on that. Progression is down to yourself. Money progresses you, again focus on that. I have a few business ideas and I am itching to get started but I need a bank of cash or a steady cash flow to ease into the change. Taxis can give you that (maybe not the bank of cash at the moment, but certainly cash flow). This gives you the idea that progression comes in all different shapes and sizes, it just depends on where you focus your target.

I have let you into my head to help you understand that there are several ways of looking at the same thing. However, for all my positivity, grandiose thinking and dream chasing it is hard out there. Very hard. We are in a massive recession and 'progress' for everybody everywhere is hard to come by. So, think long and hard about your next move. I do not know what age you are but I am assuming you are relatively young? Young for a cabbie anyway. So if you are not comfortable with the self-employed mindset/structure then get a job in the best company you can find and enjoy your time there.

Enjoy the banter with your work colleagues and don't be too anal (I am not suggesting you are) about the progress thing because you will find out (if you do not already know) that the employees that are already there haven't progressed in a while because of the economic uncertainty. For example the 18-24 can't get the jobs because the 25-30 year old are still on the first rung. The 25-30 can't get to management level because the 30-35 group have not moved up to the senior level, the 35-45 group can't get to the director level because the generation above will not budge and on and on it goes. This all happens because of the overall shortage of jobs in the first place. Of course there will be exceptions to the rule - but they are only that - exceptions!

Long story cut short, maybe the right message at the moment is be thankful of the job you obtain. All the best. Sorry if this doesn't help., but God loves a tryer......at least someone does .